My House is His House
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (I Corinthians 6:19 NKJV)
“It’s my body; I can do what I want with it.” This is a common enough phrase today, in more than one context. Within American culture this may be true within limits, but as believers we must hold ourselves to a higher standard. Earlier in this letter Paul explained that the body of Christ (corporately) is God’s temple (I Corinthians 3:16); here he narrows that down to each of us individually being designated dwellings of the Divine.
Without getting into a lengthy examination of Paul’s linking sexual immorality to idolatry, let’s look at why he felt he had to deal with this issue in Corinth. In none of the other epistles did he engage in such a frank discussion.
As a major economic and cultural center, there were significant temples to false gods in the city of Corinth. Some of those, such as the Temple to Aphrodite, included prostitutes as part of their worship rites. As such, the social attitude toward prostitution was generally lax.
In verse 13, Paul cited a bromide of the day, “Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods . . ..”. This was a euphemism similar to today’s, “It’s not a question of if kids will have sex, just when.” Both are used to imply that sexual urges are something we can’t expect one (especially a young man) to control. Paul’s point might be expressed as, “Yes, we can. As part of our faith, all of our appetites are to be under His control. This part is not separate or exempted in some way.”
Today’s society has become similarly lax in this regard. Within some subcultures of the contemporary church, it is simply “understood” that men will dally with multiple women; also, in the minds of some, the use of pornographic imagery is an acceptable substitute. While men may justify this in their own minds, Jesus pretty clearly spoke against it. He said, “‘You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.’” (Matthew 5:27-28 NKJV) Like any sin, sexual infidelity begins in contemplaton long before its completion in action.
Our very person is the dwelling place of the Lord God, Almighty. Would we want to ask Him to share it with baser things? Jesus prayed of us. “‘And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.’” (John 17:22-23 NKJV)
Keeping a clean house, physically or spiritually, really just requires diligence. Once we’ve turned over ownership we must be good stewards of His property. That means denying ourselves and living instead to His glory, in all areas. Paul was just bold enough to address this particular one here.
This is His house, the temple in which (and whom) He chooses to dwell. May I always make Him feel welcome, not like an intruder.
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